News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-05-05
COL. LOVES SWORD.
An Incident of the Battle of Cedar
Creek-NO Wonder the Boys
Loved Him.
LFrom the Raltimore American I

III
The death in Buffalo last week of
Gen. George NJ. Love of the 116th Reg
lment of New York Volunteers recalls to
mind a famous act of bravery which the
General was too modest ever to have
published. Love, at the battle of Ce-
dar Creek, was Colonel of his regiment
the 116th New York Volunteers-an
it was his gallant conduct at this battle
Tor which he was subsequently breveted
Brigadier- General. He was of frank
and genial nature, very campanionable,
full of good stories, and always endea-
yored to imbue others with his cheerful
spirit. A man of the finest physique
and a handsome face, he felt when off
duty that he was the equal socially of
any of the commanding officers. Loves
frank and honest disposition was great
ly admired by all and he became such
favor1te that whenever his command
went into an engagement the first in
quiries were always for Loves safety.
His popularity was so great throughout
the command that it necessarily found
envious opposition. which came in
the person of the commander of his di-
vision. The familiar and social ways of
the genial Love were repu9nant to the
stiff and dignifed General, and, under
some lame pretext, Love was deprived
of his command and found himself on
the eve of the battle of Cedar Creek un-
der arrest upon some insignificant and
trifing charge. The next day the Con-
federates, under Gen. Jubal A. Early,
attacked the Union line both in front
and rear. Love was still under arrest.
His friends requested the return of his
sword and his command, but Dwight
was implacable.
Love, Inundated, sees the Confeder-
ates press upon his cherished regiment,
his men fall back as they are fighting
against double odds. His nature can
stand it no longer. He rushes among
his boys, and, buckling on a cartridge
box, takes the musket from a dead man,
and fights in the ranks, his presence and
noble example encourage his almost de-
feated men. The charge under his lead
is made, and the lost ground is retaken,
with his own hands, plucks from the en-
emy the emblem Of victory, being the
first flag captured in the battle. After the
conflict, Love, attired as private sold
ier of one of the Hundred aud Sixteenth
with his cartridge box on, with q mus
ket at his side, together with his hard
earned prize-the captured flag of the
enemy-proceeded to division head
quarters to receive the hearty welcome
due brave soldier. In approaching
the dignifed General, Love in his jovial
way, said:
'sHere, General, give me back my
sword. Here is a Confederate flag for
it."
But the General, refusing the brave
soldiers request, flew into a hot passion
and ordered Love to be disarmed, the
flag to be taken from him. He also OF
dered him to be placed under close az
rest, for breach of arrest, having, so
Dwight considered it, violated his first
order of arrest. But Love was too brave
a soldier and too good man to be thus
maltreated The drummer boys liked
him, the private soldiers loved him, and
the line and staff officers knew that
there was not man of nObler heart in
the corps, and the injustice to Love was
deeply felt by all. Gen. Emery, the
commander of the corps, began to make
inquiry, and almost the same day Gen
Sheridan sent for Dwight. Gen. Sher-
arrest, and ordered his immediate re-
lease. The bravery of Love, his meek
submission to injustice from his supe-
rior, so impressed Sheridan that he or
dered Gen. Custer and Col. Love to pro
ceed with proper escort to Washington
to turn over the captured battle flags to
the War Department. When Love re-
turned q week after, he was q Brigadier
General. For week at least there was
feast in camp.